Radio Times

A good old-fashioned variety show

Back in the day before television, people settled down to listen to their radios, enjoying, in particular, the variety shows that featured vocal and instrumental offerings and short plays.

Recreating this format live on stage, we feature an original play called ‘An Invitation to Elsinore’. Created by senior students from Onewhero Area School’s drama class, it is a lively fusion of Shakespeare’s Hamlet and Tom Stoppard’s Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead.

Solitude

Solitude,  based on  a true NZ story

Written, directed and performed by DramaLab’s Martine Baanvinger

AOTNZ tour – 1 August – 24 August 2019

I’m dreaming hours down to minutes…”

In 1913 Annie enters the remote mountains of Kahurangi National Park to live a hidden life with her lover Henry Chaffey and stays there for 40 years. 40 years in exile, swallowed by the silence, enslaved by the fire.

This beautiful, touching true story is about Annie Chaffey’s love, loneliness, loss and laughter.

New Zealand musician Mark Manson has collaborated with Martine to provide a unique recorded soundscape for the production.

Nominated for Best Actress, Best Solo Performance, Best Script and winner of best Music/Sound at the Nelson Fringe Festival “…writer, director and performer, Martine Baanvinger of DramaLab is utterly compelling, humorous and breathtakingly honest as Annie.

Not only is this an interesting New Zealand story but it is told by an expert in an incredibly imaginative and touching way.”- Lisa Allen, Nelson Fringe Festival review

Badjelly the Witch

There is no story quite like Spike Milligan’s Badjelly the Witch: that nemesis of children everywhere, that evil, bag-carrying, stick-flying, screecher of doom. Loved by children and adults alike, Badjelly will be whizzing across our stage in late July and early August, joined by Tim, Rose, Lucy the cow, and many more well-known characters.

The New Zealand Guitar Quartet

Bringing an infectious energy to the stage, their music transcends borders both geographically and stylistically with performances of classical, contemporary and world music. Covering a diverse range of genres including Balkan, Brazilian, Persian, bluegrass, Celtic, Spanish and flamenco music. An Arts on Tour NZ show.

Fables at St Stephens

West Auckland Folk Band Fables produce a gentle and heartfelt indie-folk sound which could warm even the coldest of hearts. Jess Bailey’s childhood was spent on twenty-one acres of land in the outskirts of Auckland. She was taught by the Mackenzie Hills of the south Kaipara, dredged in the waters of Muriwai Beach then hung out to dry in the plum trees at home. This imagery is littered throughout the bands wistful lyrics and authentic songs. The small ensemble has shared the stage with modern folk notables Great North, The Remarkables, Chris Preistley and Nadia Reid, with performances at the home of Auckland folk, The Bunker. Jess Bailey’s velveteen voice intermingled with a collection of strings and other harmonies should find you quite at home.

The Pohutukawa Tree

Sixty-year-old widow, Aroha Mataira, is the main character. She lives with her two children, Queenie and Johnny, at Te Parenga, their ancestral land which was sold and turned into a commercial orchard. All that remains of the native bush is one Pohutukawa tree on the last plot of land owned by the all-but departed tribe. Despite whanau urging her to give up this last connection to her ancestral land to join them elsewhere, Aroha is just as determined to stay in Te Parenga.